Electrically operated set works for saw mill carriages



Oct. 25, 1955 M. E. ROBERTS 2,721,588

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SET WORKS FOR SAW MILL CARRIAGES Filed Nov. 4, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 33 I7 i i'" f 22\ as 32 I6 10 i I I i? 34 23 g 3 3 27 4 T3 ll 1 r 35 29 4 ll M w w J11 a MMISQMMMMMWMMMMIIH u:|lu'u'u:ujujujulujujujuzu T 6 Z l W 2 a 1 1 J INVENTOR. MORRIS E ROBERTS WVW ATTORNEY$ Oct. 25, 1955 M. E. ROBERTS 2,721,588

ELECTRICALLY OPERATED SET WORKS F OR SAW MILL CARRIAGES Filed Nov. 4, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS thereof.

United States Patent ELECTRICALLY @PEIRATED SET WORKS FOR SAW MILL CARREAGES Morris E. Roberts, Cottage Grove, Greg, assignor of one-half to Kenneth W. Lovegren, Eugene, Oreg.

Application November 4, 1953, Serial No. 390,154

3 Claims. (Cl. 143-426) This invention relates to set works for sawmill carriages and the primary object of the invention is to provide a set works which is semi-automatic in its operation.

With this new control for set works, the movement of the log towards the saw line can be automatically stopped for each predetermined thickness.

A further object of the invention is to provide a control means wherein the sawyer can retract the knees of the carriage by operating an electric switch control, or he can push the log towards the saw line by a manually controlled switch.

These and other incidental objects will be apparent in the drawings, specification and claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure l is an end view of a sawmill carriage, having my new and improved semi-automatic set works control installed thereon.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the control unit with the cover removed, taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end sectional view, taken on line 33 of Figure 2, showing the cover in place.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary end view of the clutch engaging mechanisrn, taken on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatical layout of the timing unit and the electric circuits associated therewith.

Referring more specifically to the drawings:

Referring to Figure 1, the sawmill carriage is indicated by numeral 1, having the usual knees 2 moved in and out by the set shaft 3. The set shaft 3 has the usual pinion keyed thereto and operating a rack assembly within the knees. The set shaft 3 is revolved by a motor 4 and usually a reduction gear 5, the said motor and reduction gear being mounted on the sawmill carriage. The saw line is indicated by the broken line 6.

This invention consists of mounting an automatic timing unit 7 to the carriage, which timing unit 7 is driven from the set shaft 3 and the chain 3. The chain 8 is trained about a sprocket 9, which is keyed to a shaft 142, journalled within suitable bearings 11 and 12 within the housing or case 13, referring particularly to Figures 2 and 3.

A disk 14 is fixedly secured to the cross shaft 10, as for instance by the set screw 15 and revolves with the shaft at all times. A hub 16 is rotatably mounted to the shaft 16. This hub has a cylindrical housing 17 forming part Within the housing 17 is an electric solenoid 18, having a movable core 19.

The core 19 is pivotally connected at to a cross bar 21. The cross bar 21 is pivotally connected at 22 to a bracket 23 forming part of the housing 17. The bar 21 operates with its opposite end within the guide 24, which forms part of the housing 17. A friction shoe 25 forms part of the outer end 26 of the bar 21 and is adapted to engage the surface of the disk 14. This operation will be more fully explained later on.

An arm 27 also forms part of the housing 17 and extends beyond the housing, as best illustrated in Figure 2. This arm rests on an adjustable stop 28, which is threaded 2,721,588 Fatented Oct. 25, 1955 ice within the bracket 29 of the semi-circular switch supporting ring 30, which is secured to the inner side of the housing 13 by bolts 31. The housing 17 and its associated parts are counterbalanced by the counterweight 32, which is threaded into the hub 16 at 33.

The housing 17 is revolved to its starting position, as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, by the coil spring 34, which has one of its ends anchored at 35 to the case 13 and its opposite end 36 engaging the base of the housing 17. This spring returns the arm 27 against the stop 28 at all times, except when the timer is in timing operation.

Secured to the ring 31) are a series of push button switches 37, 37A and 3713. These switches are always in closed position until opened by the cam 38 on the end of the arm 27. In Figure 3 this cam is shown in broken line position just about to contact one of the switches.

Referring to Figure 5, the motor 4 is a reversible type motor and is operated from either the relay switch 39 or the relay switch 49. The relay 44) is operated by a manual switch 41 and the direction of the motor is controlled by the reversing switch 42. These switches are located adjacent the sawyer who operates the carriage from the sawyers position and not from on the carriage. The reversing switch 42 controls the direction of rotation of the motor 4 through the conductors 42B and 42C.

The relay 39 is operated through a series of holding relays 43, 44 and 45. There may be more of these relays as required, depending on the number of pre-settings to be given the log being cut into predetermined sizes of boards.

A series of manually operated switches 46, 47, and 48 are located adjacent the sawyer. These switches energize the above mentioned holding relays. The switches 37, 37A and 37B are in series with the holding switches and as long as one of these switches are closed the corresponding holding relay will be held closed until the above switch is opened by the cam 38 of the arm 27 in its rotation.

I will now describe the operation of my new and improved serni-automatic preset for sawmill carriages. The sawyer operates the switch 41, which energizes the relay switch 40. This will cause electric energy to flow from the main line 49 through the conductor 50, through the switch bar 51, conductor 52 to the motor 4. The reversing switch 42 is normally in a position to cause the motor 4 to move the knees of the carriage towards the saw line, but if it is desired to move the knees away from the saw line, as for instance in the loading and turning of a log, the reversing switch 42 is operated by the sawyer, reversing the direction of the motor 4. When the log has been dogged to the carriage, the sawyer will position the same relative to the saw line by the manual switch 41 and the reversing switch 42. The reversing switch 42 may or may not be inner-connected with the switch 41.

After the sawyer has positioned the log on the carriage, having removed the slabs therefrom, and is ready to cut a cant or board of a predetermined thickness, the motor 4 is started by closing of a switch 46, 47 or 48. This revolves the set shaft 3, which in turn moves the knees of the carriage towards the saw line, also it revolves the shaft 10 within the preset unit 7.

imultaneously therewith the electric solenoid 18 causes the friction shoe 25 to engage the disk 14, rotating the cam 38 and the arm 27 until it engages a certain one of the switches 37, 37A or 378 corresponding to the manually closed switch. This determines the amount of rotation of the set shaft 3, therefore the amount of movement of the log past the saw line, determining the thickness of the cut to be taken from the log.

When the cam 33 reaches the certain one of the predetermined switches above mentioned, the motor will be stopped. The shoe 25 will also be released from the disk 14, permitting the spring 34 to return the arm 27 and its cam 38 to the starting position ready for the next movement of the log towards the saw line. in order to accomplish the above action, the sawyer will close one of the switches 46, 47 or 48 momentarily. The switch that he selects will govern the thickness of board to be removed from the log.

Assume he will close the switch 46, which will energize the relay coil 53B of the holding relay 43, energy will flow from the main line 49 through the conductor 53, switch 46, conductor 53A, relay coil 53B, conductor 54, switch 37, conductor 55 back to the main line So. Energizing of coil 533 will close the switch bars 57 and 58 of the holding relay switch Energy will flow from the main line 49, conductor 59, switch 61?, conductor 61, through the switch bar 58, conductor as into the relay coil as of the relay switch 39. This wiil close the switch bar as, causing energy to flow through the conductor 5%, through the switch bar 54, conductor 65 through the motor 4 and to the main line 56 by the conductor 66. This will start the motor 4, rotating the set shaft 3 for moving the knees 2 together with the log towards the saw line 6.

Electric current will also flow from the motor 4 to the reversing switch by way of the conductors 42B and 42C and from the reversing switch 42 to the field coil of the motor 4, completing the motor circuit.

When the holding relay 43 was energized, the switch bar 57 is connected with the conductor 67 which will mainstay the relay coil 53B energized, holding the said switch bars 57 and 58 in closed position. This is necessary because the closing of the switch 46 was only for a moment. When the relay 39 was operated, the switch bar 6% closed the circuit from the conductor 5%, through the switch bar 68, conductor 69, delivering the same into the solenoid 18, energizing the same, thence to the conductor 7 0 and back to the main line 56.

When the solenoid 18 was energized, referring to Figures 2 and 5, it pulled the core 19 towards the solenoid, applying the shoe 25 of the bar 21 against the periphery of the disk 14. This will rotate the housing unit 17, together with the arm 27 with the shaft 1i and the disk 14 in the direction of the arrow, until the cam 38 reaches the plunger 37C of the switch 37, breaking the electric circuit through the relay switch 43, allowing the switch bars 57 and 58 to return to the holding position shown in the drawings, which will allow the relay switch 39 to open the electric circuit through the motor 4 and the solenoid 18. When the solenoid 18 is demagnetized, the core 19 will release the shoe 25 through the bar 21 from the disk 14, allowing the spring .34 to return the housing 17 to its starting position.

We will assume now that the sawyer wishes to cut a thicker cant than the previous one. He could press the button 49 which would operate the holding relay 45, which in turn operates the relay 39 completing a circuit through the motor, energizing the solenoid 18, again applying the shoe 25 to the periphery of the disk 14. In this case the housing 17 would be carried around past the switch 37 and the switch 37A until it would reach the switch plunger 37C of the switch 373. This would open the entire circuit again allowing the housing 19 and the arm 27 to return to the starting position by opening the relay switch 39, also stopping the motor 4.

I have only shown three switches, 37, 37A and 37B, but C there could be more or less of these switches located on the ring 30 of the timing unit. By closing the switch 48,

having just above been described, the cut removed from the log would be three times as thick as that taken from the log when the switch 46 was closed.

In the event that the sawyer would accidentally close the button 43 when the arm 27 and the cam 38- were opening, the switch 373, and in the event the said arm allowed this switch to close again while the sawyer was holding the switch 48 closed, a safety switch 6% is provided. If the arm continues to travel around this switch would be opened breaking the main electric supply delivered to the holding relays 43, 44 and 45, allowing the solenoid 18 to be demagnetized together with the stopping of the motor 4, allowing the timer to come to starting position and the motor to stop running.

There could be additional safety switches applied to the carriage, especially to protect overrunning of the motor under forward manual operation of the switch 41 and for stopping the motor in the returning of the knees to starting position. I have not shown these switches as they are of common use. I have provided as above describe the automatic throw out switch 6% to be used with the automatic feature of the set works.

What is claimed is:

1. In combination an electrically operated drive shaft, a driven shaft operatively couple-cl to said drive shaft, a disc fixed to said driven shaft, a sleeve loose on said driven shaft, a solenoid fixed to and projecting radially of said sleeve, counterbalance means carried by said sleeve, a lever rockably carried by said solenoid and pivotally connected between the ends thereof to the core of said solenoid, one end of said lever confronting the periphery of said disc, an arcuate support disposed concentric of said driven shaft, a plurality of switches carried by said support and normally biased to circuit closing position, connections between said switches and the operator of said drive shaft, and means carried by said solenoid engageable with said switches for moving said switches to open position upon energizing of said solenoid and rotation of said sleeve with said driven shaft.

2. In combination, an electrically operated drive shaft, a driven shaft operatively coupled to said drive shaft, a disc fixed to said driven shaft, a sleeve loose on said driven shaft, a solenoid fixed to and projecting radially of said sleeve, a lever rockably carried by said solenoid and pivotally connected between the ends thereof to the core of said solenoid, one end of said lever confronting the periphery of said disc, an arcuate support disposed concentric of said driven shaft, a plurality of switches carried by said support and normally biased to circuit closing position, connections between said switches and the operator of said drive shaft, and means carn'ed by said solenoid engageable with said switches for moving said switches to open position upon energizing of said solenoid and rotation of said sleeve with said driven shaft.

3. A device as claimed in claim 2 in which a safety switch is carried by said support for operation by said means carried by said solenoid at the limit of rotation of said sleeve in the event said plurality of switches fails to operate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

